SYSTEM FOR MEASURING DYNAMIC INFORMATION OF GOLF BALL FOR SCREEN GOLF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, and more particularly to, such a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball, which accurately measures the angle and speed of a golf ball and a golf club from four different optical beam planes positioned in front of a golf ball hitting platform in a screen golf facility installed mainly in an indoor driving range so as to implement an expected carry distance and falling point of the golf ball in the form of a three-dimensional image based on the measurements of the angle and speed of the golf ball.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, and more particularly to, such a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball, which accurately measures the angle and speed of a golf ball and a golf club from four different optical beam planes positioned in front of a golf ball hitting platform in a screen golf facility installed mainly in an indoor driving range so as to implement an expected carry distance and falling point of the golf ball in the form of a three-dimensional image based on the measurements of the angle and speed of the golf ball.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Currently, a golf simulation system has been developed to overcome a spatial limitation in an indoor driving range. That is, the golf simulation system measures the kinetic information regarding the speed and flight angle of a golf ball in a given space in the vicinity of a golf ball hitting platform so as to predict the flight trajectory of the golf ball, and outputs a predicted flight trajectory on a screen installed in front of the golf ball hitting platform in the form of a three-dimensional image based on the measurements of the speed and flight angle of the golf ball.

In this case, since the same image as that of a golf field of an actual driving range has been input to a controller for controlling the output of the predicted flight trajectory of the golf ball, a golf player can get the same visual effect as if he or she directly played in an actual golf field. Such a golf simulation system is typically called “screen golf”.

The most importance technical factor in a green golf implementing system is an accurate prediction of the flight trajectory and falling point of a golf ball. To this end, it is required that the dynamic information of the golf ball should be measured more variously and accurately in a limited space.

Conventionally, various devices have been proposed to measure the kinetic information of a golf ball. For example, FIG. 1 is a portable golf training system 10 with an light sensor net disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,802 issued to Yi-Ching Pao on Oct. 16, 2001. The portable golf training system 10 includes a substantial L-shaped frame having a first leg 12 and a second leg 14, a light emitter assembly with a first light emitter 16 connected to one end of the first leg 12 of the frame and a second light emitter 18 connected to one end of the second leg 14 of the frame, an array of light detectors with a first set of spaced apart light detectors positioned along the first leg 12 of the frame to receive the non-parallel light rays emitted from the second light emitter 18 and a second set of spaced apart light detectors positioned along the second leg 14 of the frame to receive the non-parallel light rays emitted from the first light emitter 16, and a data processor 22 connected to the array of light detectors to process relational kinetic information for the golf ball and the golf club.

In this case, each of the first and second emitters 16 and 18 emits a spread of non-parallel light rays to form a light sensor net 20 in a substantial single plane. When a golf player swings a club to make impact to a golf ball in the ball hitting area, light rays to some selected light detectors are interrupted or blocked off while the golf ball and the golf club pass through the light sensor net 20. At this time, the data processor 22 measures the location and the interruption time for each selected light detector where and when the light rays are interrupted by the golf ball and the golf club, and detects the relational kinetic information for the golf ball and the golf club based on the measurements to predict the flight trajectory of the golf ball. The flight trajectory predicted by data processor 22 is processed in the form of a three-dimensional image and is then displayed on a screen installed in front of the ball hitting area.

However, the above conventional golf ball dynamic information measuring system entails a problem in that it has a large error range, and thus a limitation in obtaining an accurate dynamic information for a golf ball, kinetic information for a golf ball and a golf club is all measured in a single plane which is called an light sensor net 20. Particularly, in order to measure the flight angle of the golf ball it is required that a golf player should hit the golf ball at a specific position with a golf club. In addition, the conventional golf ball dynamic information measuring system has a problem in that since it measures the speed of the golf ball only through the interruption time of each selected light detector when the light rays are interrupted by the golf ball, there occurs a large error range for the speed of the golf ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to address and solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball in a simulation system for a screen golf, which can accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball.

To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, the system comprising: a vertical frame including first and second vertical bars which are arranged in parallel with each other in front of a golf ball hitting platform in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground; a horizontal frame including first and second horizontal bars which are arranged in parallel with each other at a lower end of the vertical frame; first and second groups of spaced apart vertical light sensors which are positioned along the first and second vertical bars; first and second groups of spaced apart horizontal light sensors which are positioned along the first and second horizontal bars; first and second vertical light emitters which are disposed spaced apart from each other at an upper end portion of the vertical frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors in a substantially singular plane; first and second horizontal light emitters disposed spaced apart from each other at a distal end portion of the horizontal frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of vertical light sensors in a substantially singular plane; and a data processor connected to the first and second groups of vertical light sensors and the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors, wherein the linear laser beams emitted from first and second vertical light emitters and the first and second horizontal light emitters form four light beam planes arranged in parallel with one another in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform 300 at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball, thereby enabling to accurately display the flight trajectory and falling point of the golf ball on a screen in a simulation system for a screen golf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the construction of a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an optical beam plane formed by a laser beam in a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the construction of a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an optical beam plane formed by a laser beam in a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention comprises: a vertical frame 100 including a first vertical bar 110 and a second vertical bar 120 which are arranged in parallel with each other in front of a golf ball hitting platform 300 in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform 300 at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground; a horizontal frame 200 including a first horizontal bar 210 and a second horizontal bar 220 which are arranged in parallel with each other at a lower end of the vertical frame 100; first and second groups of spaced apart vertical light sensors 130 and 140 which are positioned along the first and second vertical bars 110 and 120; first and second groups of spaced apart horizontal light sensors 230 and 240 which are positioned along the first and second horizontal bars 210 and 220; first and second vertical light emitters 150 and 160 disposed spaced apart from each other at an upper end portion of the vertical frame 100 to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors 230 and 240 in a substantially singular plane; first and second horizontal light emitters 250 and 260 disposed spaced apart from each other at a distal end portion of the horizontal frame 200 to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of vertical light sensors 130 and 140 in a substantially singular plane; and a data processor 500 connected to the first and second groups of vertical light sensors 130 and 140 and the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors 230 and 240.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the linear laser beams emitted from first and second vertical light emitters 150 and 160 and the first and second horizontal light emitters 250 and 260 form four light beam planes 410, 420, 430 and 440 arranged in parallel with one another in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform 300 at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground.

That is, a first light beam plane 410 is formed between the first vertical light emitter 150 and the first group of horizontal light sensors 230, a second light beam plane 420 is formed between the first horizontal light emitter 250 and the first group of vertical light sensors 130, a third light beam plane 430 is formed between the second vertical light emitter 160 and the second group of horizontal light sensors 240, and a fourth light beam plane 440 is formed between the second horizontal light emitter 260 and the second group of vertical light sensors 140.

In the present invention, the vertical frame 100 and the horizontal frame 110 form a substantially L-shaped structure. Each of the light beam planes 410, 420, 430 and 440 takes a triangular shape between the vertical frame 100 and the horizontal frame 110. The angle between the vertical frame 100 and the horizontal frame 110 is specifically not limited, but is preferably 90 degrees.

In addition, the angle (θ) between the light beam planes 410, 420, 430 and 440 and the ground is determined depending on the angle (θ) between the first vertical bar 110 and the second vertical bar 120 and the ground. The angle (θ) is not limited specifically, but it is possible to most effectively measure the dynamic information of the golf ball if it ranges from 30 to 70 degrees.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second vertical light emitters 150 and 160 are mounted on a vertical linkage bar 170 for interconnecting the upper end portions of the first and second vertical bars 110 and 120. Also, the first and second horizontal light emitters 250 and 260 are mounted on a horizontal linkage bar 270 for interconnecting the distal end portions of the first and second horizontal bars 210 and 220.

The spatial intervals R1 between the first vertical light emitter 150 and the second vertical light emitter 160, between the first horizontal light emitter 250 and the second horizontal light emitter 260, between the first vertical bar 110 and the second vertical bar 120, and between the first horizontal bar 210 and the second horizontal bar 220 are set to be identical to one another. The spatial interval R1 determines the spatial intervals R1 between the first light beam plane 410 and the third light beam plane 430, and between the second light beam plane 410 and the fourth light beam plane 440. The spatial intervals R1 are not limited specifically, but most preferably range from 10 to 20 cm.

Further, the spatial intervals R2 between the first vertical bar 110 and the first vertical light emitter 150, between the second vertical bar 120 and the second vertical light emitter 160, between the first horizontal bar 210 and the first horizontal light emitter 250, and between the second horizontal bar 220 and the second horizontal light emitter 260 are set to be identical to one another. The spatial interval R2 determines the spatial intervals R1 between the first light beam plane 410 and the second light beam plane 432, and between the third light beam plane 430 and the fourth light beam plane 440. The spatial intervals R1 are not limited specifically, but most preferably range from 7 to 12 mm.

In the present invention, each of the groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors 130, 140, 230 and 240 are spatially aligned and arranged at a predetermined spatial interval of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 cm on the first and second vertical bars 110 and 120 and the first and second horizontal bars 210 and 220, and receive linear laser beams emitted from the light emitters 150, 160, 250 and 260 corresponding thereto, respectively. At this time, the linear laser beams emitted from the light emitters 150, 160, 250 and 260 is in the form of pulsed laser beams of 10 to 30 Kz so that they are not influenced by an external scattered light or noise. The vertical and horizontal light sensor groups 130, 140, 230 and 240 can be configured to receive only the pulsed laser beams from the corresponding light emitters 150, 160, 250 and 260. The frequency range of the pulsed beams can be preset into the data processor 500 depending on the kind of a golf club used by a golf player. The vertical and horizontal light sensor groups 130, 140, 230 and 240 are connected to the data processor 500.

Now, the operation and working effect of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3.

When a golf player hits a golf ball 600 with his or her golf club in a golf ball hitting platform 300, the golf ball 600 passes through the first to fourth light beam planes 410 to 440 sequentially while traveling along a linear trajectory A. At this time, the data processor 500 recognizes the serial numbers of the light sensors of each group of light sensors 130, 140, 230 and 240 for which laser beams are interrupted so as to detect a point A1 on the linear trajectory A positioned between the first and second light beam planes 410 and 420, where the center of the golf ball 600 passes through from the first groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors 130 and 230, and a point A2 on the linear trajectory A positioned between the third and fourth light beam planes 430 and 440, where the center of the golf ball 600 passes through from the second groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors 140 and 240.

Next, the data processor 500 calculates the flight speed of the golf ball 600 based on the distance between the points A1 and A2 and the time spent for traveling the distance. Also, a line segment on the linear trajectory A interconnecting the point A1 the point A2 is converted into a vector to obtain the horizontal angle and vertical angle for the flight trajectory of the golf ball. At this time, a variation in locations of the light sensors of the groups of horizontal light sensors 230 and 240 for which laser beams are interrupted is used to calculate the horizontal angle for the linear trajectory A of the golf ball. Also, a variation in locations of the light sensors of the groups of vertical light sensors 130 and 140 for which laser beams are interrupted is used to calculate the vertical angle for the linear trajectory A of the golf ball.

Meanwhile, a club head 700 passes through the first to fourth light beam planes 410 to 440 sequentially while traveling along a curved trajectory B. At this time, the data processor 500 recognizes the serial numbers of the light sensors of each group of light sensors 130, 140, 230 and 240 for which laser beams are interrupted so as to detect a point B1 on the curved trajectory B positioned between the first and second light beam planes 410 and 420, where the center of the club head 700 passes through from the first groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors 130 and 230, and a point B2 on the curved trajectory B positioned between the third and fourth light beam planes 430 and 440, where the center of the golf head 700 passes through from the second groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors 140 and 240. Then, the data processor 500 calculates the rotational speed and rotational angle of the club head 700 at the distance between the point B1 and the point B2 where the club head 700 travels.

Through the above process, the data processor 500 measures the dynamic information for the golf ball 600 and the golf head 700 to calculate the expected carry distance and falling point of the golf ball 600 based on the measurements of the dynamic information, and then processes the expected flight trajectory of the golf ball 600 in the form of a three-dimensional image to display the three-dimensional image on a screen (not shown) installed in front of the golf ball hitting platform 300.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the vertical linkage bar 17 and the horizontal linkage bar 270 are not installed, but a vertical stand 180 is installed in place thereof. In this case, the first and second vertical light emitter 150 and 160 are mounted at one ends of the first and second vertical bars 110 and 120, respectively. Also, the first and second horizontal light emitter 250 and 260 are mounted at one ends of the first and second horizontal bars 210 and 220, respectively.

While the invention has been in detail described in connection with what is presently considered to be preferred practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the structures of the vertical and horizontal frames 100 and 200 may be configured of a plate-shape to allow the respective groups of light sensors 130, 140, 230 and 240 to be mounted at either edge thereof. But, it is to be noted that this design modification should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present invention as long as a new effect does not appear which is not expected in the present invention due to the design modification.

As described above, a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention has an advantageous effect in that it can accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball, thereby enabling to accurately display the flight trajectory and falling point of the golf ball on a screen in a simulation system for a screen golf.

Claims

1. A system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, the system comprises:

a vertical frame including first and second vertical bars which are arranged in parallel with each other in front of a golf ball hitting platform in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground;

a horizontal frame including first and second horizontal bars which are arranged in parallel with each other at a lower end of the vertical frame;

first and second groups of spaced apart vertical light sensors which are positioned along the first and second vertical bars;

first and second groups of spaced apart horizontal light sensors which are positioned along the first and second horizontal bars;

first and second vertical light emitters which are disposed spaced apart from each other at an upper end portion of the vertical frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors in a substantially singular plane;

first and second horizontal light emitters disposed spaced apart from each other at a distal end portion of the horizontal frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of vertical light sensors in a substantially singular plane; and

a data processor connected to the first and second groups of vertical light sensors and the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors,

wherein the linear laser beams emitted from first and second vertical light emitters and the first and second horizontal light emitters form four light beam planes arranged in parallel with one another in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform 300 at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the linear laser beams emitted from the light emitters are in the form of pulsed laser beams of 10 to 30 Kz, and the vertical and horizontal light sensor groups are configured to receive only the pulsed laser beams from the corresponding light emitters.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the vertical frame and the horizontal frame is 90 degrees.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial intervals R1 between the first vertical light emitter and the second vertical light emitter, between the first horizontal light emitter and the second horizontal light emitter, between the first vertical bar and the second vertical bar, and between the first horizontal bar and the second horizontal bar range from 10 to 20 cm and are set to be identical to one another.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial intervals R2 between the first vertical bar and the first vertical light emitter, between the second vertical bar and the second vertical light emitter, between the first horizontal bar and the first horizontal light emitter, and between the second horizontal bar and the second horizontal light emitter range from 7 to 12 mm and are set to be identical to one another.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the angle between the vertical frame and the horizontal frame is 90 degrees.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein the spatial intervals R1 between the first vertical light emitter and the second vertical light emitter, between the first horizontal light emitter and the second horizontal light emitter, between the first vertical bar and the second vertical bar, and between the first horizontal bar and the second horizontal bar range from 10 to 20 cm and are set to be identical to one another.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the spatial intervals R2 between the first vertical bar and the first vertical light emitter, between the second vertical bar and the second vertical light emitter, between the first horizontal bar and the first horizontal light emitter, and between the second horizontal bar and the second horizontal light emitter range from 7 to 12 mm and are set to be identical to one another.